Posts by : Izy Berry

Whether you’re traveling with an elementary school baseball team or a high school basketball team, eventually you’ll have to hit the road and head off to another city or region for those somewhat stressful away games. Being away from home with such a large group of people presents a number of challenges, especially when you’re having to supervise and manage younger minors who require more attention than their adult or adolescent counterparts. Planning ahead is important to avoid any unnecessary hassles or mishaps that could be avoided with a bit of due diligence and preparation. With that said, here are a few steps you can take to ensure maximum convenience for your traveling sports team.

1.      Bring the Right Gear

Transporting sports equipment is one of the biggest issues when it comes to loading up and unpacking everything. Luckily, there’s no shortage of sports travel gear designed to accommodate virtually every need you can think of for any sport. To get an idea of what kind of gear you can use to simplify your traveling experience, check out gear-related blogs and catalogs for inspiration. For example, ThePlanetofBaseball.com contains reviews for common baseball gear types such as specialized backpacks and bat carriers.

2.      Book Accommodations in Advance

Arriving at your destination and then having to worry about hotels, camping, lodging, or other forms of hospitality is simply not the best game plan if you want to ensure everything goes smoothly. Instead, be sure to take care of all booking and reservation duties at least 1-2 weeks in advance. Not only will this eliminate the concern of having to handle things at the last minute, it’ll also position you to get the best possible price. Likewise, inquiring about group discounts is also recommended if budgeting is a factor.

3.      Delegate Logistics to One Person

Although splitting up duties might seem like a wise choice, ultimately it can lead to a lot of confusion and miscommunication. Thus, it’s best to choose a single event organizer to take care of the travel plans for the team. Taking this approach can also help you maintain accountability in the event that team funds are misused or misappropriated.

4.      Bring Adequate Nourishment

Last but definitely not least, you don’t want your team going hungry and losing valuable energy as a result. Relying solely on restaurants and fast food could leave your players feeling lethargic after having to digest large or less-than-ideal meals. To give your athletes the edge and keep their energy levels up, you should bring plenty of healthy snack foods like protein bars, salads, sandwiches, juices, and maybe even a cooler or mini-fridge stocked with fresh produce.

Informing the Team

Finally, to keep the trip fully organized and prevent any misunderstandings, it’s best to review your plans with the team before departure. This way, everyone will know what they need to bring along and what to expect. After all, you don’t want your players and staff showing up with too much excess equipment, gear, or food after you’ve already taken care of that aspect of the trip.

Are you in a funk? Maybe you’ve messed up, or you’re simply not sure what you should be doing with your life? We all go through these stages, so here are a few ways you can get your life back on track:

Set goals

The most successful people in the world are continually writing down their goals. And many of them revisit those goals daily. Whether you’re hoping to find a new job, increase your income, find love, or anything else, you need to have a solid goal in place and milestones along the way.

Talk to the experts

Sometimes, we simply can’t do everything ourselves. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t have the tools to get your thoughts and feelings under control, speaking with a therapist can help. The same goes if you’ve committed a crime- talk to criminal lawyers Parramatta. You may find that you’re ready to up-level in your business, so a business coach could help you see where you’re losing money or not making the most of your opportunities. A career coach could also help you decide which industry may be the best fit for you.

Do it together

Whether you’re hoping to lose weight, sort out your finances, or finally get your career sorted, doing these things with someone who also has a similar goal can make it much easier. If both you and your best friend are trying to save money, you can spend time doing free activities instead of paying for expensive dinners and drinks. And if you and your significant other are both trying to lose weight, you can keep each other motivated and make sure there are always healthy food choices in the house.

Learn to de-stress

These days, we have more things grabbing our attention than ever before. We’re continually connected to our friends through our smartphones, tablets, and laptops, and most of us have more stress than ever before in our lives.

That’s why it’s so important that you learn how to manage your stress and anxiety in a healthy way. Meditation can be one way to do this, and there are also a number of great apps like Headspace and Calm which make it easy for you to learn mindfulness and stay in the present moment.

You may also find that exercise is a great way to relieve stress. A simple walk outside in the fresh air or a session at the gym can get your endorphins flowing and take your attention away from your stress.

When travelling to another country half way around the world, you usually have two choices – endure a single direct flight or break up the journey into multiple flights. Opting for multiple flights instead of one flight does mean that it’ll take longer overall to get to your destination, however there are lots of perks that make breaking up a long haul flight a better decision. Here are just four reasons to split up the journey instead travelling direct.

You can explore new places on the way

Stopping somewhere else en route could give you the opportunity to get out and explore a new place. Whilst many people choose to hang around in the airport until the next flight, you could arrange enough time between each flight so that you go out and see the local sight and stay in a local hotel. For example, if you’re travelling from New York to Instanbul, you could consider stopping off at Paris for a night. You could take a quick afternoon trip of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe and then go back to a hotel near the airport such as the AC Hotel Paris Le Bourget Airport ready for your morning flight. It doesn’t even have to be a whistle stop tour, you could plan a few days and have effectively two holidays in one.

It’s often cheaper

Breaking up a long haul flight can also be cheaper in many instances than taking a single direct flight. Take a London to Tokyo flight as an example – you’re usually going to be paying a grand for a single person direct flight. However, divide the journey and you’re likely to only pay half that amount. Even with a night in a hotel thrown in and a meal, you’re still going to be paying less overall. This could save you hundreds that could be put towards spending money or better accommodation at your destination.

You’ll feel less jetlagged

When travelling horizontally across multiple time zones, breaking up a long haul flight can prevent you feeling as jetlagged when you reach your destination. When travelling from Sydney to Cairo you have to set your clock back eight hours – a time difference that could take you several days to adjust to. However, stop off at Dubai which is only six hours behind and you could ease into the new time zone more easily.

It gives you a last adventure on the way back

If you’re taking a return flight, breaking up a long haul journey also gives you something to look forward to on your way home. Rather than having to face a ten hour flight before returning to normality, you can look forward to the chance of exploring somewhere new on your way back, even if it just for a night. It’s nice way to finish off your vacation abroad by giving yourself a small treat at the end.

If you’re planning a trip to Niagara Falls, you’re probably looking forward to seeing the iconic natural landmark you’ve been hearing about for years. It’s legendary around the world, and attracts millions of tourists each year.

However, do keep in mind that there are plenty of other great things to do in Niagara Falls, no matter your age, interests, or tastes. You will even find that many Niagara Falls getaway packages include tickets to some of the top destinations in the region. Read on for a sample of things you need to do on any trip to the Niagara region.

Take a Boat Ride to See the Falls

Obviously one of the first things you’re going to want to do is see the actual waterfalls that make the Niagara area so famous. A great way to do this is on a boat ride that gets up so close to the natural wonder you can get splashed by the roaring waters and really hear their power.

Purchase a ticket on Hornblower Niagara Cruises if you’re on the Canadian side of the Falls. (Maid of the Mist operate a similar boat tour on the American side of the border.) During the Hornblower journey, which lasts for around 20 minutes, you will be taken near to the Bridal Veil Falls, Canadian Horseshoe Falls, and the American Falls. The tours are operated on modern, 700-passenger catamarans. You can choose to take a cruise during the day or night, plus there are extended 40-minute options as well.

Visit the Old Fort Niagara

If you really enjoy learning about local history wherever you go, then don’t miss a trip to Old Fort Niagara. This fort is the oldest operational one of its kind in the United States (it’s on the U.S. side of the Falls), and was built in the 1700s. Over the years this site has been utilized by, at various times, British, American, French and Native American troops, during wars such as the Revolutionary, French, and Indian conflicts.

While you’re at the Fort, check out beautifully-preserved barracks, cannons, and various other exhibits, and educate yourself on the landmark’s historical significance as you listen to a self-guided audio tour. Hourly musket demonstrations are run at the site, plus, at certain times of year you can also watch re-enactments of the battles waged at Old Fort Niagara over its lifetime.

Try Local Wines

Apart from the famous waterfalls, the Niagara region is also well-known as a top wine spot. There are at least 25 open-to-the-public wineries in the vicinity of Niagara Falls, around a 15 to 20 minute drive away from the center of town. In particular, though, explore the picturesque suburb of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

There are many great vineyards here, but the most iconic one has to be Inniskillin Winery. Inniskillin is renowned for its Icewine, a specialized type of dessert wine created using grapes which are frozen while still on the vine. This leads to a concentrated grape, since the water inside the fruit freezes but the dissolved solids and sugars do not.

While you’re at the winery, apart from of course tasting and purchasing some of the company’s excellent varieties, you can also take a guided tour to discover all about the vineyard’s wine-making process.

Ride the Niagara SkyWheel

If you’re looking for another good view of Niagara’s waterfalls, plus the surrounding area, take a ride on the Niagara SkyWheel. You’ll get some wonderful photographic opportunities from up high on this Ferris wheel, which reaches up 175 feet into the sky. Each trip on the SkyWheel takes around a quarter of an hour, and covers at least four full rotations.

The gondolas on the Ferris wheel accommodate whole families or groups of friends at once, plus they’re air-conditioned and heated for passenger comfort each day of the year. If possible, try to time your trip on the wheel for after the sun has set. Once this happens, the spectacular Falls Illumination lighting shows starts. It lights up the sky and the waters of Niagara Falls in all the colors of the rainbow, and is not to be missed.

Give Indoor Skydiving a Go

Lastly, if you’ve always wondered what skydiving was like, but haven’t felt confident about jumping out of a plane, head to Niagara Freefall and Interactive Center so you can give indoor skydiving a go. Here you can enjoy the experience of flying, but within a wind-tunnel flight chamber. While inside, you’ll get moving at speeds of up to 140 mph. The experience can be done in groups of four, too, so if you want to brave it with some friends or family members, you can all support each other.

While aging is inevitable, we can all choose how we age. While we all try to delay aging it happens whether we’d like it to or not. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make the most out of your life, whatever age you are. And it’s possible to keep your independence while you do it.

Here are some top tips for aging gracefully and keeping your independence:

Enjoy what you eat

We’re always told what we should eat and drink, and old age is no exception. While we should all reduce our amounts of alcohol, fat, sugar, and salt, there’s no need to take all of the enjoyment out of dining. Food should be a source of pleasure and a chance to connect with others. Getting older will allow you to occasionally have a glass of wine or piece of chocolate cake- as long as you keep an eye on your portion sizes.

Meditate and rest

By the time you retire, you’ve likely spent a large portion of your life working. While your senior years allow you to enjoy the results of that labor, it can often make retirees fee lost. Going from a daily routine to having lots of time on your hands can impact your mental and physical health. Practicing mindfulness and mediation can be a great way to ensure you get a great sleep and feel more in control.

You also have an excellent opportunity to pick up a variety of leisure activities. Maybe you’d like to take up new hobby like drawing or painting, or you’d like to learn a language or a musical instrument. Go to movies, musicals, art galleries, and museums. Volunteer your time, participate in local councils, and enjoy the time you now have on your hands.

Make your home accessible

If you’re like most people, you probably want to stay in your own home for as long as you can. There are a few things you can do to keep yourself safe in your home. If you use a walker, make sure you have plenty of space to get around and you’ve removed any clutter. If you have a two-storied house, you can still stay independent with a stair lift. And make sure you’ve prepared the bathroom with plenty of grab bars, non-slip mats, and more.

Are you planning to old gracefully? Leave a comment below.

Booking a trip can be exciting and liberating. But planning that trip and actually going on that trip can be full of stress. If you’re getting ready to go on a trip, or considering booking a holiday somewhere exotic, here are some tips to help you reduce the stress:

Keep it simple

Often when we’re travelling our days end up jam-packed and overcomplicated. That’s why it’s important that you decide what type of things are important to you and will make you feel like you’ve had a successful trip. Maybe you’d like to make sure you get to 10,000 steps each day. Or maybe you’d like to try some of the local food each day. Perhaps watching the sunrise (or sunset for us night owls) will make you happy.

Make a few guidelines around what you’d like to do and what doesn’t really interest you. Pack light, keep your schedule relatively free, and focus on enjoying yourself.

Journal

When you’re constantly taking photos and using Google it can feel like you’re connected to your phone. Keeping a journal can be a great way to mind map, take notes on the things you see, organise your thoughts, and scrapbook some of your memories.

Make it easy

You could try and figure out the public transport schedule when you arrive into a new city after a 14 hour flight. Or you could book a transfer and be driven straight to your hotel where you can freshen up, take a nap, and be ready to explore the city. Transfer companies like Blacklane are perfect for an Amsterdam airport transfer, New York airport transfer, or a transfer in more than 250 cities worldwide.

Schedule in work

Many of us are working while we’re on holiday. If this sounds like you, it’s a good idea to plan this in advance. Do as much as you can before you leave (I often work in the airport before I fly) and if you’re flying long haul, consider paying for wifi and getting stuck in so you don’t have as much to do on the road.

Figure out how much you’ll need to work each day. Will you be able to work at a cafe or does your hotel have great wifi? Do you think you can get a few hours of work in after dinner or would it be better to get up early and get it done before breakfast? Trying to balance travel and work can be a recipe for stress and anxiety, but planning it in will make it much easier for you to do both.

Planning to travel this bank holiday weekend? If you’re planning to bring cigarettes or vape kits into a different country, it’s best to know their regulations. Tourists have been fined and even imprisoned for vaping in countries like Thailand, which have strict laws against it, which is why it’s best to be in the know before you book a weekend away.

While many European countries regulate e-cigarettes, few have banned it. The laws have changed from the 17th of May 2017 though, and e-cigarettes have been officially classed as a tobacco-related product.

In Lithuania, vaping is banned, but smoking is ok. In Portugal and Croatia, you can’t vape in public places, but e-cigarettes can be used outdoors as long as you’re being respectful.

Some countries have placed restrictions around how much nicotine you can bring. In Finland and Belgium, you’ll need to check the restrictions before you fly. In Belgium, you can purchase e-cigarettes but can only purchase cartridges with 20mg of nicotine and 2 ml of liquid. In Finland it’s even stricter, and you’ll need to bring your cartridges with you since you can’t purchase them there. And the cartridges you do bring can only have less than 10mg in them.

In Ireland, regulations are a lot more relaxed, and you can buy e-cigarettes with no problem. You can also vape wherever you like, except public transport.

Each country has different laws surrounding the personal use and sale of e-cigarettes. They’re also continually being updated as new restrictions come into place. For this reason, it’s best to make sure you’re doing your research before you fly, if you’re hoping to avoid fines and enjoy your trip.

When it comes to smoking, some countries are more smoke-free than others. Throughout Europe, smoking is not prohibited, but cigarettes vary greatly in price. Generally, if you stick to places like Budapest, Prague, and other Eastern European cities, you’ll find that you get the most bang for your buck here (it’s also super cheap to party in these destinations).

As you can see, there are a variety of places in Europe which will be perfect for a bank holiday. And many of these have relaxed laws around both smoking and vaping. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy yourself over the weekend, and don’t want to worry about restrictions, it’s probably a good idea to stick to fun cities in Eastern Europe and avoid places like Belgium and Finland.

When you’re planning a trip, one of the most stressful parts can be looking for flights. By booking the best possible flight, you can save thousands of dollars. But when should you book that flight? Is it worth booking nine months in advance? Or should you wait for a last-minute deal?

According to online travel agent opodo.co.uk, the perfect time is approximately six weeks before you’d like to fly. Opodo checked return flights from the UK between November 2016 and 2017, analysing them based on price. When you book long-haul, short-haul, and domestic flights 42 days before departure, you can save 48% on the price of your ticket.

If you’ve got a short-haul flight that needs to be booked, it can be worth booking it in January, since this is the cheapest month to book. For many people, this is a great time to book a holiday away after while dealing with the post-holiday madness and winter-blues.

There’s even a day of the week that’s better for booking flights. If you’re travelling domestically, you should book on a Sunday for the cheapest rates. For short-haul, book on Wednesdays, while Tuesdays are a good time to book for the cheapest long-haul flights.

I consider myself somewhat of an expert when it comes to booking flights. I recently had to book a rather last-minute flight and found that it was better to try to find a flight between 10 and 14 days before departure than to just book one for the next week. The data proves this as well- if you book the second week before you’re due to travel, you’ll be able to get much cheaper tickets than if you were to book them the week before you’d like to fly.

It can be difficult to understand how flights work. For long-haul flights, airlines begin releasing flights up to ten months in advance. They release a certain number of flights for each booking class. As each class is sold, the price increases. However, you’ll often find that they’ll release seats at a lower price point around that six week mark to try to fill up the planes.

As you can see, it’s completely possible to do lots of travel this year- even if you tend to procrastinate or you have a busy schedule. Six weeks is just enough time to plan a fun trip, so why not see where you could go six weeks from today?

Leisure DB has acknowledged in its 2017 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report that the UK now has more than 9.7 million fitness members. This figure is an all-time high for the nation, though it must also be acknowledged that a University of Birmingham study has also found that obesity rates across the UK are now at the highest throughout the whole of Europe with over 20 per cent of our population are currently considered obese.

To find out more about how fit those living in the UK are, award-winning mountain bikes retailer Leisure Lakes Bikes has put together the following study. Read on and discover the fitness cultures and environments of the nation’s ten largest cities (compiled by data from CityManors), as well as each city’s obesity rates (research of which has been made available from online pharmacy allcures.com):

Bristol

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 399,633

Adult obesity rate — 21%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Bristol, you will be able to locate three Pure Gym’s and one Bannatyne’s health club*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 99,908 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Bristol, you can locate 22 cycling clubs. Five athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while six swimming clubs are available across the whole of Bristol.

Manchester

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 430,818

Adult obesity rate — 23%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Manchester, you will be able to locate 11 Pure Gym’s and three Bannatyne’s health clubs *. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 30,773 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Manchester, you can locate 52 cycling clubs. Seven athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while nine swimming clubs are available across the whole of Manchester.

Edinburgh

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 448,850

Adult obesity rate — 22%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Edinburgh, you will be able to locate six Pure Gym’s and two Bannatyne’s health clubs*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 56,107 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Edinburgh, you can locate 16 cycling clubs. 14 athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while nine swimming clubs are available across the whole of Edinburgh.

Liverpool

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 467,995

Adult obesity rate — 26%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Liverpool, you will be able to locate four Pure Gym’s but not a single Bannatyne’s health club*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 116,999 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Liverpool, you can locate 15 cycling clubs. Six athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while four swimming clubs are available across the whole of Liverpool.

Bradford

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 483,422

Adult obesity rate — 28%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Bradford, you will be able to locate two Pure Gym’s but not a single Bannatyne’s health club*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 241,711 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Bradford, you can locate 42 cycling clubs. 17 athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while three swimming clubs are available across the whole of Bradford.

Sheffield

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 530,375

Adult obesity rate — 25%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Sheffield, you will be able to locate three Pure Gym’s and one Bannatyne’s health club*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 132,594 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Sheffield, you can locate 31 cycling clubs. 16 athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while two swimming clubs are available across the whole of Sheffield.

Glasgow

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 616,430

Adult obesity rate — 24%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Glasgow, you will be able to locate nine Pure Gym’s and one Bannatyne’s health club*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 61,643 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Glasgow, you can locate 37 cycling clubs. 28 athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while three swimming clubs are available across the whole of Glasgow.

Leeds

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 726,939

Adult obesity rate — 22%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Leeds, you will be able to locate eight Pure Gym’s and one Bannatyne’s health club*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 80,771 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Leeds, you can locate 33 cycling clubs. 28 athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while two swimming clubs are available across the whole of Leeds.

Birmingham

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 1,020,589

Adult obesity rate — 27%

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of Birmingham, you will be able to locate nine Pure Gym’s and four Bannatyne’s health clubs*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 78,507 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around Birmingham, you can locate 32 cycling clubs. 15 athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while 12 swimming clubs are available across the whole of Birmingham.

London

The city’s standout stats:

Population — 7,074,265

Adult obesity rate — 20% (based on an average of the obesity rates for all London boroughs)

How many gyms can be found?

Within a 10-mile range from the city centre of London, you will be able to locate 41 Pure Gym’s and 9 Bannatyne’s health clubs*. If the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments, the average spread would be 141,485 people to each location.

How many sports clubs can be found?

In a space of 15 kilometres around London, you can locate 117 cycling clubs. 107 athletics clubs can also be located within a 10-mile range of the city, while 17 swimming clubs are available across the whole of London.

*For this study, Pure Gym was selected as it is currently the UK’s leading operator in the private and public sectors alike in terms of the number of clubs and members, as per Leisure DB’s 2017 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report. Meanwhile, Bannatyne’s health clubs were selected due to them being the UK’s largest independently owned health club operator.